re • con • struc • tion


I chose the word "reconstruction" for the title of the Ripper bass copy page after considerable thought.
For a while I considered "resurrection" but rejected it because of its objectionable religious overtones.
I considered "restoration", but rejected it because it was not my intention to restore the Ripper bass
copy to its original condition, but rather to convert it to a closer resemblence to a real Ripper than it
originally had. Similarly, "renovation" was rejected because it was not my intention to return the
bass to its original condition. "Conversion" was also rejected because it does not convey the
impression that the bass was damaged and missing parts when I undertook the project. So,
I was left with "reconstruction" that seemed to fit because it reflected my intent to rebuild
the bass, returning it to good operating condition, but did not necessarily imply that the
bass would be returned to its original condition just as the Reconstruction of the South
after the Civil War did not return the South to its original condition, but rather took
it off in a different direction.